Tokyo - Day 3

Today, the temperature was 9-13 degrees celsius. Bearable but not very comfortble. The Japanese don't wear gloves and my fingers are always freezing. Towards the end of the day, my hand is grdually stuck permanantly in my pocket. It rained lightly and I felt very happy because had an umbrella imported all the way from singapore with me. Well, it is actually quite a hard decision - whether or not to use the umbrella. If it is used, then the hand can't be in the pocket. But if it isn't used, we get wet and it makes us feel even colder. I think I was unofficially awarded the title of being the best dressed for the occasion. At least I wore a waterproof jacket.

Jean and I got a wake up call from our parents in the morning. Poor Jean.. She decided to sleep on the side of the bed with the phone. Then, went over to their room to eat breakfast. We went out and spent 45 minutes trying to find our way to the correct platform in the big underground train network. It is so complicated as there are 9 companies, and you have to buy different tickets for different lines. We finally found it after asking around, walking in and out. We went to the Yasukuni shrine. That's the shrine that the Jap PM visits every year and causes a lot of protest. Then, we went to Kitanmaru Park. By then, we were quite tired from the walking. I was wearing track shoes which made my feet cold whenever wind blowed. In addition, my socks were thin. It was then an there that Jean admitted she accidentally packed 1 pair of socks which was unevenly matched - 1 thick and the other side thin. So in total, she had three thick socks and 3 thin socks. She was working out her own schedule on how to evenly spread out the use of the socks over the next few days. When we walked out, there was this washing basin. Supposed to be for cleansing before you go in. Then my mom thought it was like a hospital and thought it was nice idea to have a washing point there before leaving the place. Ha.. sigh

Then, we went to Harajuku. It is described by Formers Japan (travel guide), "If you're over 25, you're apt to feel ancient there, since this is tokyo's most popular and trendy place for Japanese high school and college students." Ahaha.. I wonder how my parents felt. The Japanese there really have an interesting sense of fashion. For the past 2 days, I thoght that what I had been seeing was already unusual eough. But when I saw the people walking around Harajuku, they definitely win the title of being the most unconventional. They have unique ways of expresing thmeselcves, dressing all in black and with weird punk styles. There were also some oddly dressed people holding signs "free hugs". I don't think anyone dared to go to them..

Then, we walked past a stadium. There was going to be a band's debut concert going on. I think the band's name is "A B C-Z kis my ft2". I have no idea what could have inspired them except the alphabet. There were a lot of people. The whole street in the Harajuku was practically jammed with people. Shui ie bu tong and ren shan ren hai. There were many funky people waiting outside the indoor stadium (oh ya, the 1964 olymics was held there) and most of them were girls.

Then, we walked to the Meiji Shrine. It was my second time there and I don't think it has changed much since 6 years ago. At this time of the year, Japanese kids aged 3, 5 nd 7 come with their famalies to recieve blessings. Sx years ago, I think we went to this shrine on 15 Nov, Jean's 8th birthday. Not for any particular purpose except sight seeing, but we found the event rather interesting. Then around 5pm, they began closing the place. Since the shrine was a one way type of road, we walked through the track and was already nearly finishing it. Then, suddenly, the intercom said, "Every entrnce has just been closed. Please hurry back now." In that case, wouldn't we be locked in till tomorrow? Inthe end, like everyone else who listened to the english version, we ignored it and got out safely.

Then, walked somemore and went back to Shinjuku and ate dinner there. It quite cold. Oh and there's this big Daikin advertisment board on top of a building tht gives the temperature. How suitable since it's an air conditioner brand.

Took a shower, went to my parents room again and used dad's laptop. We ate fruit which dad cut up using his swiss knife. Then, family prayer.

Going to sleep now. Have t wake up by 5am tomorrow tokyo time. We'll be checking out of the hotel and then taking the train to Hanoke to look at Mt Fuji. Unsure about internet connection there. That's all now, good night.